Annealing apparatus and method for float glass

Abstract

An annealing apparatus for a float glass continuously anneals a glass ribbon molded in a float bath. The annealing apparatus includes a lehr housing having an inlet and an outlet for the glass ribbon, a plurality of lehr rolls rotatably installed to the lehr housing in a width direction of the lehr housing, and labyrinth seals installed between the lehr rolls and sidewalls of the lehr housing, respectively, to prevent sulfurous acid gas supplied into the lehr housing from discharging out.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2010-0050872 filed at the Korean Intellectual Property Office on May 31, 2010, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND[0002]1. Field[0003]Exemplary embodiments relate to an annealing apparatus and method for a float glass, and more particularly, to an annealing apparatus and method for a float glass in which a sealing structure of lehr rolls of an annealing lehr which anneals a glass ribbon continuously produced by a floating process.[0004]2. Description of the Related Art[0005]Generally, a float glass manufacturing system continuously supplies molten glass onto a molten metal (e.g., a molten tin) stored in a float bath, molds a strip-shaped (or, ribbon-shaped) glass ribbon with consistent width and thickness while carrying the molten glass to float on the molten metal, and pulls the glass ribbon toward an annea...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent text describes an annealing apparatus and method for a float glass that improves the sealing structure of the lehr housing. The apparatus includes a lehr housing, lehr rolls, and labyrinth seals to prevent the discharge of sulfurous acid gas. The annealing method involves supplying sulfurous acid gas to reduce friction and defects, and sealing gaps between the lehr housing and lehr rolls to prevent the gas from leaking out. The technical effects include reducing the amount of sulfurous acid gas used, preventing environmental pollutions, and improving the quality of the annealed glass.

Problems solved by technology

This tin-based floating impurity may contaminate the dross box and the surface of rollers used in the annealing process.

Therefore, the tin-based floating impurity may deteriorate the safety of the annealing work and deteriorate the process stability and the quality of the glass products.

However, since the space between the lehr rolls and a casing of the annealing lehr to which the lehr rolls are installed is very wide, the sulfurous acid gas may leak to the space and give harm to the human body.

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